Method and apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of webs of textile material



June h 1940, w. DURsTELr-:R 2,203,678

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE THE CONTINUOUS WET TREATMENT 0F WEBS 0F TEXTILE MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 19157- INVENTOR [HC/ 1 9//77 l/J/er BY ATTORNEY.

June 11, 940. w. DURSTELER 2,2037

HETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE THE CONTINUOUS WET TREATMENT 0F WEBS OF TEXTILE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 5, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IgyVENToR. raf/@ler ATTORNEY.

f W. DRSTELER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE THE CONTINUOUS WE'l TREATMENT OF WEBS 0F TEXTILE' MATERIAL Filed Aug. 5, 1937 4 Shwts-Sheet 3 ,lign/4.1

ATTORNEY.

J@ EL '.f-l w. DURSTELER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE THE CONTINUOUS WET TREATMENT 0F WEBS 0F TEXTILE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 5, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

w Y. 6. E ou WDM www d. w Hd rearranged Jut; 11, 1940 iV-UNITEDSTAT METHOD AND APPARATUS Fon THE: oon- TINUOUS WET TREATMENT OF OF i TEXTILE MATERIAL Wilhelm Drsteler, Thalwil, Switzerland Application August 5, 1937, Serial No. 157,582

In Germany April 1, 1937 26 claims.

This invention relates to a new method and apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of webs of textile material.

i In `the wet treatment of textile fabrics and particularly fabric webs the materials when in contact with the treating liquid undergo a cer-` tain amount of shrinkage which in most cases is the shrinkage inherent in the particular type of fabric or in some cases is a shrinkage intentionally producedand in excess of the normal 'degree of shrinkage of the particular fabric treated, as for example Iin the manufacture of creped goods. For the purpose of allowing for the necessary or desired degree of shrinking of textile materials when in contact with a treating @liquid it is essential that the material, particularly when conveyed in web form in a continuous process through a treatingbath, be substantially free from tension so as to avoid any deformation ofthe fabric texture.

In the wet treatment of textile materials in vweb form in accordance with my invention anytension of the fabric while passing through the treating bath is substantially avoided thereby eliminating any possibility of structural deformation as the result of shrinkage in the bath and my new procedure is far superior to any of the hitherto known practices and in addition will give results not attainable by present methods.

I have discovered that I can accomplish the `desired result by passing the fabric web in open state into a conduit of comparatively small depth through which a steady stream of the treating liquor is passed in such manner and with such speed that it will grip the fabric web and convey the same through the entire length of the conduit without the necessity of mechanical convey--A ing means. p p The invention will be fully understood and further `objects will appear from the following description read in conjunction with the drawings which illustrate the practical embodiments of my invention without however limiting the scope thereof and in which:

Fig. l shows a longitudinal cross section `through one embodiment of the invention.

(Cl. ill-46) Fig. 5 is a cross section through a further einbodiment of the invention showing non-angular conduits in battery arrangement,

Fig. 6 is a cross section through an alternative form of the construction shown in Fig. 5, l

Fig. 7 is a crosssection through an embodiment of the invention showing V-shaped conduits.

With specific reference to Figs. l and 2, the apparatus as shown inthe'drawings includes a conduit I of U-shape comprising open ended l0 side conduits 3 and 5; side conduit 3 extends with its end portion into a feeding compartment `2 while side conduit 5 extends with its end portion into a discharge compartment 4. The upper rim 6 of side conduit 3 is funnel shaped so as ld to form an overflow and serves` as a treating liquid inlet. f Y

The upper end `of side conduit 5 extends to adjacent the top of the discharge compartment and is provided withslots l on the narrow side 20 of the conduit and arranged belowl the level indicated by the overflow rim 6 ofside conduit 3 as to permit a difference in liquid level when the entire conduit is filled lrthus causing the treating liquid to flow at the desired rate of 25 speed downwardly rin conduit 3`a`nd upwardly in side conduit 5. Feeding compartment 2 is provided `with means 25 for feeding treating liquid to the compartment whereas discharge compartment 4 is provided with a liquid dis'a g@ charge outlet 26. A guide roll I5 for properly guiding the fabric web S into the upper end of side conduit 3 is arrangedabove the feeding compartment 2. On its travel through the conduit the fabric web S is preferably guided in 3g; the curved part of the U-shaped conduit over a` freely movable guide roll Il lresting with the cone shaped end of its axis l2 in bearing it carried by front plate It.v A discharge wheel 263 is arranged on top of discharge compartment t 4@ to continuously remove the fabric web as it emerges from the upper part of side conduit 5.

In the practical operation of the apparatus as illustrated in Figs. 1 and`k2, treating liquid,`

fed into compartment 2 vthrough inlet 25; over- 45 ows rim 6 and passes "downwardly throught` side conduit 3 andfupwardly through sideifconi duit 5` being dischargedA through slots T;'Th'e' should it be desired@ `rfa-'115e the mandaat liquid as for instance when using a costly treating bath, I have found it of advantage to connect the discharge outlet 25 by means of `a suitable pipe line with the liquid inlet 25 in vthe feeding compartment 2. This arrangement will permit re-circulation of the treating liquid preferably with the aid of a pump or such similar means suitably inserted in the connecting line, thereby necessitating but a.` relatively small volume of treating liquid without sacrificing the` intensity of treatment. Such arrangement is for instance schematically illustrated in Fig. 1 in which the lines marked a and b represent the recycling connecting lines to the pump. In this manner it has become possible for the first time to achieve economical large scale treatment of textile materials in comparatively expensive and costly treating bathsr thereby obtaining in many instances products which hitherto could not be manufactured on a commercial scale.

Inasmuch as the treating liquid as a rule is fed .into the feeding compartment under a ce1'- tain pressure, particularly when re-cycling the treating liquid, a certain turbulence is created in the feeding compartment; it is therefore of advantage to force the treating liquid prior to its discharge into the side conduit 3 through sieves l0 and baiiies 9 so that the liquid layer reaching and overflowing rim 5 is substantially quiet and non-turbulent. For structural convenience I prefer to secure some of the batlles e to e removable my a attached te the inside of the feeding compartment and to secure corresponding baiiles to the outside of the upper portion of side conduit 3 thus forcing the liquid after it has passed the sieves and already quieted down to a considerable extent, through the tortuous passages formed by corresponding bailles.

. The difference between the level of the overilow rim in the feeding compartment and the `upper discharge level of the treating liquid discharged in compartment l determine the rate of speed with which the treating liquid passes through conduit I. discharge outlet a slot l in the conduit 5 as it extends -into compartment 4 it is of course possible to let the treating liquid be discharged through the open end of the side conduit 5 in which case the open discharge end should be arranged below the level of overflow rim 6. I prefer, however, the arrangement of discharge slots as shown in Fig. 1 as in this case the treating' liquid being. discharged fanwise will exert a desirable lateral stretching action upon the fabric web as it passes the slot.

For practical reasons the difference between the referred to levels responsible for the flow'of the treating liquid through the conduit cannot be made very great as this would require a very long side conduit 3 and a relatively short side conduit 5 thereby making the apparatus `unnecessarily high. Though in many instances a relatively small difference between these levels and thus a relatively small rate of ow surfaces it is often desirable to convey the fabric 'web through the apparatus at a comparatively high rate of speed for which reason it becomesnecessary to increase the rate of flow of the treatingV liquid in theconduit. This increased rate of flow of the treating liquid may be accomplished by imparting to the treating liquid already at the point of entrance into the side conduit 3 a rate of flow somewhat higher than it normally possesses while overflowing into the Instead of providing as the` sure. S ch an arrangement is-illustated in Fig.y

3. As t ere shown the means for feeding the treating liquid kinto the side conduit comprise two opposing liquid discharge outlets having lower lips 32 and upper lips 33,`the lower lips of both outlets are c urved downwardly into the open end of side conduit 3 and are so spaced apart that they substantially form a slot capable of receiving and guiding a fabric web whereas the upper shorter lips may be arranged either substantially horizontal or at a downward slant and either straight or slightly curved; the opposing discharge outlets for the treating liquid as defined by the upper and lower lips will thus discharge downwardly the treating liquid fed to their common compartment 2 by means of liquid inlet 25.

Alternatively the rate of flow may be increased by removing the treating liquid as it is discharged from the side conduit 5 by suitable Asuction means such as pumps and the like. Such alternative arrangement is for instance shown in Fig. 4 in which in accordance with the preferred `embodiment of a slotted discharge end, the treating liquid discharge pipes 3'l connected to pump 35 are attached by means of connecting pieces 36 to slots 1. In this fashion treating liquid .is forced out of the slots by means of the suction pump 35 which at the same time may be so constructed as to be capable of conveying the treating liquid sucked oif from the slots to the feeding compartment for re-use. It is of course understood that still higher rates of ow may be obtained by combining the forced liquid feed construction referred to above and illustrated in Fig. 3 with'the suction discharge illustrated in Fig. 4.

In many cases where I utilize gravity llow and use but la comparatively low difference between the feed-in level in compartment 2 and the discharge level in compartment 4 I have found that the fabric not being thoroughly wetted as yet in its downward path through side conduit 3 but being thoroughly wetted in its upward path through side conduit `5 has picked up so much additional weight while moving upwardly that it will sometimes be retarded in its movements so that there is danger of an undesirable accumulation of fabric inside conduit 3 and especially in the curved central portion of conduit l. I have discovered that I can substantially eliminate the objectionable effect of the un balanced distribution of weight carried by the fabric due to absorbed treating liquid, by increasing the rate of ow of the liquid as it passes through side conduit 5. As` illustrated in the drawings such result is for instance obtained by constructing the side conduit 5 with a smaller depth than the side conduit 3. In this manner the rate of flow of the treating liquid in side conduit 5 is greater than that in side conduit 3, thus compensating for the additional weight of treating liquid absorbed by the fabric in its upward passage.

The dimensions of the conduit are not critical though I prefer to use a conduit having a width slightly in excess of that of the fabric Whatever .the apparatus is provided with one` side conduit of smaller depth `than the other so as to create a diiference in the rate of ilow of the treating liquid in both side conduits, though the relationbetween the dimensions of the two conduitsisfnot critical, I have found it of advantage to maintain substantially a proportion of 3:2 between the depth ofthe conduits when feeding the fabric web into the apparatus for instance at'a rate of speed substantially between 15 and 25cm/sec.

.The means for guiding the fabric into or,`

throughizhe` apparatus as illustrated in the draw-` ings in the form of guide. rolls may be substituted ifdesired by other suitable guide `means such as` guide rods.` Pig. 3 for example illustrates a feeding arrangement in which two guide rods 39 are carried by a common connecting piece 40 mounted on a support 42 and adapted to pivot around its centre-.point 4i; the fabric S is preferably further led over suitable means 43 so 4as to permit the same Vto be vertically fed .into theside `conduit 3. In this manner a breaking action may be applied should the fabric beV `dra-mn into'theapparatus attoo high a rate `of speed. Y

When using guide wheels it is sometimes of advantage, especially when operating with a comparatively low rate of flow` of the treating liq- `uid in the conduits, in whichcase the gripping and conveying action exerted by the treating liquid upon the fabric is not very strong, to

connect the feeding roll to suitable .driving means such as a motor or the like adapted to rotate the roll at the desired rate of speed. The guide means for guiding the passage of the web within theconduit such `as guide rolls or guide rods are not as a rule absolutely necessary to the successful conveyance of the web through the conduit and may be entirely omitted in many cases ifdesired as the treating liquid current guided by the walls of the conduit will propel the goods .without dilculty through .the same and `even such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the same is preferably of hollow construction, being carried on both ends by axial cones resting in suitable bearings and of such weight and dimensions that it.

willpossess a certain buoyancy in the treating liquid surrounding same. In this fashion the guide wheel will float in the treating liquid and i will easily revolve by the slightest frictional contact with the moving fabric web. The ease with which the guide wheel turns may be still further facilitated by providing a suitable paddle arrangement or the like, such as paddles circumferentially on either one orboth ends of the guide wheel asfor instance illustratedin Fig. 2. 'Ihe guide wheel if desired may be connected to suitable driving means adapted to rotate` the same at substantially the same rate of speed with which the fabric web is, propelled through the conduit by means of the treating liquid current' whicharrangement still further facilitates the `smooth passage of the goods. It is of course understood that the wheel in such case substantially retains its characteristic as guide wheel and does not serve as conveying means tor the fabric since in accordance with the invention the fabric is `ai: all times propelled through the treating bath by means of the current of`treating liquid alone. q

The wet treatment of textile fabrics in most cases is carried out at raised temperatures and for this reason it is desirable to effectuate the heating of `the treating liquid while the same is in contact with the goods to be treated, that is while the same passes through the conduit. This can be accomplished by either the application of direct heat to the outside walls of the conduit or by the introduction of suitable heat conveying media, including hot gases and liquids, into the space 21 formed between the side conduits l' and as shown in Fig. 1. Suitable heating media are for instance hot` gases such as steam, air, ctc., or hot liquids such as oil, water, organic liquids. etc. 4When making use of organic liquids this arrangement has the additional advantage of permitting the maintenance of a better uniformity in treating temperature control.

In many instances as for example when the time of contact between the fabric web and the treating liquid in one passage through the coni duit is insufficient or where it isdesirable to carry out the application of a series of different treatments in succession,`I have found it of advantage to use two or more of such conduits in battery arrangement. If the `same treating liquid is prescribed for some or all of the conduits in the battery, corresponding treating liquid outlets and inlets may 'be connected' so that the treating liquid. discharged fromy the discharge compartment of the first conduit in the battery will b'epassed to the feeding compartment of the second and then discharged from the second to the feeding compartment of the third, etc..

until finally the treating liquid from the dis-` of suitable connections, as for instance the connections 29 illustrated in the drawings.

'Ihe arrangement of two or more conduits in battery fashion possesses the additional advantage ofpermitting a rearrangement of the ma.-

, terial during its treatment. This may be accomplished by passing the goods after their discharge from one conduit and prior to their introduction into the next' succeeding conduit over suitable means for Vre-arranging the fabric web,

which means are preferably such that the re-ar- Irangement is simultaneously coupledwith alateral stretching of the web. as for instance illus-4` through the next succeeding conduit is achieved and thus a greater uniformity in the application l of the treating bath.

Instead of using a U-shaped conduit as shown n in Fig. 1 I may also use a V-shaped conduit as is shown in Fig. 7 or a non-angular `straight con-l duit as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In general any type of conduit is suitable lnaccordance with the invention and regardless of its shape or form provided the' conduit is fsusicient width ander.

sufficient comparatively .small'depth to permit the unimpaired conveyance of a .web of textile material in open state by means of't'reatinlg liquid flowing throughA 4the conduit.

desired, may be .of the lateral stretching type. .In the fairrangement` is shown kthe fabric leaves conduit la .and passesinto a compartment 34 thencethroughconduit lb into a compartment 34a land finally through conduit Ic into the discharge 4compartment 4. Instead of passingthe goods from vone conduit to the other without revmovingfthe same fromythe liquid it isof Icourse possible toremove the material from the liquid after itV has -passed each of the conduits for the purpose of relarrangin'g and for laterally stretchl ingl the same and pass the same thereafter backv into, thesame compartment from which it was previously removed 'and repeat thel removal and re-insertion if desired in the next followingcompartment, etc., until the fabric is finally discharged. This arrangement of superimposing several horizontally situated non-angular conduits hasthe advantage that it facilitates the.`

affectuation of a greater rate of flow of the treating licuid since in general the difference o betweentheliqud level in the feeding compartment and that in the discharge compartment can be made greater more easily as a matter of practical plant and operating conveniencethan when using angular such as U-shaped or V-shaped conduits. Where'it is necessary to prolong the contact between the goods and the treating liquid it is of course possible to` procure such result by either increasing the length of the various conduits through which the goods and liquidpass or by permitting the goods to pass through one or more additional conduits added to or inserted in the conduit battery or by a combination of both these ex'pedients. If the conduits are madecomparatively long it is of advantage to arrange them in a downwardly sloping fashion so that the end of the conduit into which the fabric enters is'at a higher levelthan the end of the conduit from which the fabric emerges. It is of course possible to arrange the conduits in such manner that their downward slope may be adjusted to any desired degree. f

When using an arrangement as illustrated in Fig. 5 there is always one feeding, compartment into which the fabric is fed and one discharge compartment from which it is finally discharged. There are, however, additionally intermediate compartments which form the connection for the treating liquidand fabric web conveyance between successive conduits and which preferably contain suitable guide means. The straight conduit arrangement has the further advantage that the travel of the material is not in any way impeded by the progressively increased weight of theA fabric web as the result of absorbed treating liquid while the same moves through the various conduits. 0n the contraryv in thisvarrangement and particularly when the conduits are slopingly arranged the progressively increased weight of the fabric web will tend to facilitate its passage.

Should it be desired, when using straightnonangular conduits in battery arrangement, to remove the fabric web fmmihetreanng.. liquid after its passage through each of the conduits,"

I may either utilize a construction in which the goods are re-immersed for their Apassage into and o through the next succeeding compartment in the `same compartment from which theyare dlscharged or preferably a construction as illustrated in Fig. 6 in whicheach conduit extends separately into a 'feedingcompartment at one endfand into ay discharge compartment at the other. In the latter arrangement the fabric web,

being fed into and passing through the upper' conduit IOIa isdischarged over the first discharge wheel 35 thencelfed into and passed through the succeeding conduit Illlb, from there discharged over discharge wheel 36 thence fed into` and passed through thejnext lower conduit llc and finally discharged over `discharge wheel 3l. Of j course if the treatment requires passage through additional conduits thematerial may pass through thesein the same manner. Also in this construe#` tion the conduits may be provided with a downward slope either in .stationary or adjustable arrangement. Inasmuch as in each `of the discharge compartments the end of the correspondtreating liquid current due to the progressively increasing liquid absorption.

Though this is` ask a rule not as pronounced as in the case of U- i shaped or V-shaped conduits with comparatively` long side conduits, I prefer to construct the upwardly extending discharge end of each conduit with a depth smaller than that of the remainder of such conduit. Thisconstruction as illustrated in Fig. 6 has the advantage over that shown in Fig. 5 that the various conduit units may be charged with different treating liquids thus making each in and of itself an independent unit, permitting, however, at the same time by connecting successive discharge and feeding compartments and the last discharge with the first feeding compartment the adaption'of this construction to the use of the same treating liquid in al1 units. As explained with reference to structures comprising U-shaped or V-shaped` conduits in battery arrangement it is likewise of advantage in all other'structures in accordance with` the invention when using constructions of the battery type, as for instance, illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, to utilize the space between adjak cent conduits for heating purpose with suitable heating media that may be circulated through causes a structural deformation of the fabric web. I have discovered as a further embodiment of'my invention `that I can substantially prevent the creation of any tension as the result of a tooA rapid pick-up of the discharge-wheel by automatically adjusting the same as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6. In the arrangement there illustrated the pick-up of the discharge wheel will automatically decrease as soon as the rate of the fabric discharge decreases and increase as soon as the discharge rate increases, thus making is dis- -'the pick-up ofy the discharge prevailing at any time. As illustrated in the drawings the discharge wheel 24 carries pulley I1 driven from a suitable sourcesuch as an electric motor by means of the `endless belt 23.` The axis I8 of 'discharge wheel 24 rests on=bearing I! attached to arm 20 and4 balanced on-support 22. Arm 2li-carries at its other end slidable weight 2 I. When the discharge wheel picks up the fabric web faster than it is discharged from the conduits, the ensuing pull will cause arm 2li to pivot on its support 22, thereby swingingl the discharge wheel downwardly which results in a siackening` of the belt 23' and thus a slowing down of the speed with which the conduit.

discharge `wheel picks up the fabric web from the Slide 2| may be so adjusted thatit lifts the discharge wheel just suilicient to prevent a` slackening of the discharged fabric web and must of course be adjusted for each particular kind or type of fabric dependent upon the pull exerted upon the discharge wheel by the weight of that piece of fabric web `that has left the treating bath plus the absorbed treating liquid. Should rconversely the fabric web be discharged faster than the pick-up of thedischarge wheel the discharge wheel will swing upwardly thus causing belt 23 to tighten, which fact results in a speeding itslwidth, a first opening at oneend of said conduit fcrcontinuously admitting a web of textile material in extended state, a second opening at the other end of saidconduit for continuously discharging a web of textile material in extended state and means for continuously passing a web' of textile material in extended state into, through and out ofsaid conduit, said means comprising means for continuously feeding treating liquid into said' conduit, means for continuously discharging treating `liquid from said conduit so as to create a continuous treating liquid current in `said conduit, said conduit being so dimensioned inits proportions of depth to widththat said treating liquid :current is sufficient to frictionally engage aweb of textile material in extended state and continuously propel the same through said conduit.

2. Apparatus in `accordance `with claim 1 in `which said means for continuously discharging treating liquid from said conduit are connected to said means forvcontinuously feeding treating liquid to said conduit so as to return` treating liquid from the dischargemeans to the feeding l 3. Apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of textile materials in web form comprising a conduit possessing a small depth in relation to its width,a first opening at one end of said conduit for continuously admitting a web of textile material in extended state, `a second opening at the other end of said conduit for continuously discharging a web of` textile material in extended state and means for continuously passing a web of textile material in extended state into, through and out of said conduit, `said means `comprising a treating liquid inlet at one end"of said conduit,

a `compartment surrounding said treating liquid i inlet and adapted to continuously feed treating liquid into said conduit through.` said inlet, means for continuously feeding treating liquid to said compartment and means for`continuously discharging treating liquid from the other end of said conduit so as to'create a continuous treating liquid current in said conduit. said conduit being so dimensioned in its proportions of depth to' width that said treating liquid current is suflicient to frictionally engage a web of textile material in extended state and continuously propel the same through said conduit. l 4. Apparatus for the continuous wet Itreatment of textile materials in web form comprising a conduit possessing a small depth in relation to its width, a rst opening at one end of said conduit for continuously admitting a web oftextile material in extendedstate, a second opening at the other end of said conduit for continuously discharging a web of textile material in extended state and means for continuously passing a web of textile material in extended state into, through and out of said conduit, saidmeans comprising a compartment surrounding said first opening and adapted to continuously feed treating liquid into said conduit through said iirst opening, said first opening forming a treating liquid overflow on said conduit, meansfor continuously feeding treatingliquid into said compartment and means for continuously discharging treating liquid from the other end of said conduit so as to create a con` tinuous treating liquid current in said conduit, said conduit' being so dimensioned in its proportions of depth to width that said treating liquid current is suilicient to' frictionally engage a web of textile materialin extended state and continuously propel the same through said conduit.

5. -Apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of textile materials in web form comprising a conduit possessing a small depth in relation to its width, a first opening at one end of said conduit for `continuously admitting a web of textile material in extended state, a second opening `at the other'end of said conduit for continuously discharging a web of textile material in extended state and means'for continuously passing a web of textile material in extended state into, through and out of said conduit, jsaid meanscomprising acompartment surrounding said first opening, two` opposing treating liquid discharge ducts in said compartment extending with their lower portion downwardly into said conduit "through said first opening and forming a slot adapted to receive and guide a web of textile material in extended state, each of said discharge ducts being adapted to continuously inject a separate stream of treating liquid downwardly into said conduit through saidopening, means for con- 'tinuously feeding treating liquid to said compartment and means for continuously discharging treating liquid from the other end of said conduit so as to `create a continuous treating liquid current in said conduit, said conduit being so dimensioned in its proportions of depth to width that said treating liquid current is sufficient tol frictionally-` engage a web of `textile material in extended state and4 continuously propel the same `through said conduit.

6.`Apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of t textile materials in web forml comprising a conduit possessing a small depth in relation to its width, a first opening at one end of said conduit for continuously admitting a webof textile material `in extended state, a second opening at the 4other end of ,said conduit for continuously `of textile material ing treating liquid into said first compartment,

a treating liquid outlet at the yother end of said conduit, a second compartment ,surrounding said outlet and adapted to receive treating liquid discharged from said conduit through said outlet v'and means for continuously removing treating liquid from said second compartment, said treating liquid outlet being on a lower horizontal plane than said treating liquid inlet so as to i create a continuous treating liquid current in said conduit,said conduit lbeing so dimensioned in its proportions of depth to width that said treating liquid current is suiicient to frictionally engage a web of textile material in extended state and continuously propel the same through said conduit.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which said means for continuously removing treating liquid from said second compartment are connected to said means for continuously feeding treatingliquid into said rst compartment so as to return treating liquid from said second yto lsaid nrst compartment.

8. Apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of textile materials in WebformA comprising a conduit possessing a small depth in relation to its width, a iirst opening at one end of said conduit for continuously admitting a web of textile material in extended state, a second opening at the other end of said conduit for continuously discharging a web of textile material in extended state and means' for continuously passing a web in extended -state into, through and out of said conduit, said means comprising a rst compartment surrounding said first opening and adapted to continuously feed treating liquid intov said conduit through said iirst opening, said first-opening forming a treating liquid overflow on said conduit, means for continuously vfeeding treating liquidinto said rst compartment, a treating liquid outlet at the other end of said conduit, a second compartment surrounding said outlet and adapted to receive treating liquid discharged from said conduit through said outlet and means for continuously removing treating liquid from said second compartment, said treating liquid outlet being on a lower horizontal plane than said treating liquid inlet so as to create a continuous treating liquid lcurrent in said conduit, said conduit being so .dimensioned .in its proportionsof depth to width that said treating liquid current is sufiicient to frictionally engage a web of textile material in extended state and continuously propel the same through said conduit.

9. Apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of` textile materials in web' form comprising a conduit possessing a small vdepth in relation toits width, a first opening at one end of said conduit for continuously admitting aweb. of textile material in extended state, a second opening at the other end of said conduit for continuously discharging a webcof textile material in extended state and meansfor continuously .passing a web of textile' material in extended state into,

`through and out of said conduit, said means `comprising a rst compartment surrounding said rst opening, two opposing treating liquid discharge ducts in said iirst compartment extending with their` lower portion downwardly into said conduit through said rst opening and forming a slot adapted to receive and guide a web of textile material in extended state, each of said discharge ducts being adapted to continuously inject a separate stream of treating liquid downwardly into said conduit through said iirst opening means for continuously feeding treating liquid into said first compartment, a treating liquid outlet at the other end of said conduit, a second compartment surrounding said outlet and adapted to receive treating liquid discharged from said conduit through said outlet and means for continuously removing treating liquid from said second compartment, said treating liquid outlet being on a lower horizontal plane than said treating liquid inlet so as to create a continuous treating liquid current in said conduit, said conduit being so dimensioned in its proportions of depth to Width that said treating liquid current-is sufllcient to frictionally engage a web of textilematerial in extended state and continuously propel the same through said conduit. Y

l0. Apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of textile materials in web form comprising a conduit possessing a smalldepth in relation to its width, a first openingat one end of said conduit for continuouslyA admitting a web of textile material in extended state, a second opening at the`other end of said conduit for continuously discharging a web of textile material in extended state and meansl for continuously passing a web of textile material in extended `state into, through and out of said conduit, said means comprisingva treating liquid inlet at one end of said conduit, a iirst compartment surrounding said treating liquid inlet into said conduit through said inlet, means for continuously feedingy treating liquid into said compartment, a treating liquid outlet at the other end of said conduit, suction means connected to said outlet for continuously removing treating liquid from said conduit through said outlet so as to create a continuous treating liquid current in said conduit, said conduit being so vdimensioned in its proportions of depth to width that said treating liquid current is suiiicient to frictionally engage a web of textile material in extended state and continuously propel the same through said conduit.

1l. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 in which said suction means are connected to said means for continuously feeding treating liquid into` saidV compartment so as to return treating liquid from said suction means to said compartment.

12. Apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of textile materials in web form comprising a conduit possessing a small depth in relation to its width, a iirst opening at one end of said conduit for continuously admitting a web of textile material in extended state, a `second opening `at the other end of said conduit for continuously discharging a web of textile material in extended state and means ,for continuously passing a web of textile material in extended state into, through and out of said conduit, said means comprising a compartment surrounding said iirst opening and adapted to continuously feed treating liquid into `said conand adapted to continuously feed treating liquid ing forming a treating liquid overilow on said conduit, means for continuously feeding treating liquid `into said compartment, a treating'liquid outlet at the other end of said conduit, suction *means connected to said outlet for continuously `removing treating liquid from said conduitv through said outlet so as to create a treating liquid current insaid conduit, said conduit be- `in`g` so dimensionedin its proportions of depth to width thatsaid treating liquid current is sufticient `to frictionally engage a web `ol? textile material in extended state and continuously f propel the same through said conduit.

13. Apparatus for the continuous wet .treat- "`ment of textile materials in web form comprising a conduit possessing a small depth in relation to its width, a ilrst opening at one end `of `said conduit for continuously admitting a webct textile material in extended state,.a seoond opening at the other end of said conduit for continuously discharging a web oftextile material in extended state and means for continuously passing a web of `textile material in extended state into, through and out of said conduit, said means comprising a' compartment surrounding said rst opening, two opposing l treating liquid discharge ducts in saidfirst com- `partirient extending with their lower portion ldownwardly into said conduit through said ilrst Iiopening and forming a slot adapted to receive `and guide a web of textile material in extended state, each of said discharge ducts being adapted tocontinuously inject a separate stream of treat- `ing liquid downwardly into `said conduit throughl said opening, means for continuously feeding treating liquid into said rst compartment, a

of textile material in extended state and contreating liquid outlet at the other end of said conduit, suction means connected to said outlet for continuously removing `treating liquid`from said conduit through said outlet so as to create `of depth to width that said treating liquid current 'is sumcient to frictionally engagea web tinuously propel the same` through said conduit.

14. Apparatus for the continuous wet treatmentY of textile materials in web form comprising aconduit possessinga small depth inrelation to its `width and having a first upwardly extending open end anda second upwardly extending open end, guide means for guiding a web of textile material in extended state into said iirst open end,

,'web removal means for continuously removing a `web of textile material from said secondopen Mend and means for continuously passing a web of textile material in extended state into said first open end, through said conduit and out of said second open end comprising a compartment surrounding said first open end and `adapted to continuously feed treating liquid into saidwconduit through said first open end, means for continuously feeding treating liquid to said compartment and means for continuously discharging treating liquid from saidsecond open end so as to create `a continuous treating liquid current in said conduit, said conduit `being so dimensioned in, its

proportions of depth to width that said treating liquid current'I is suiiicient to` frictionally `engage a web of textile material in extended state and "continuously propel the same through said concuit. l

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 in Vonen end and a second upwardly extending open end, guide means for guiding a web of textile material in extended state into said rst open end. web removal means for continuously removing a web of textile material from said second open end, means for automatically adjustingthe web removal by said web removal meansto the rate with which a web of textile material continuously passing through said conduit is dischargedat said second open end and means for continuously passing a web of textile material in extended state into said rst open end, through said conduit and out of said second open end comprising a compartment surrounding said first open end and adapted` to continuously feed treating liquid into said `conduit through said ilrst open end, means for continuously feeding treating liquid to said compartment and means for continuously-disd charging treating liquid from said second open end so as to create a continuous treating liquid current in said conduit, said conduit being so dimensioned in its proportions ofV depth to width that said treating liquid current is suiiicient to frictionally engage `a web of textile material in extended state and continuously propel the `same through said conduit.

17. Apparatusin accordance with claim 16 in which said second open end is of smaller cross section than said rst open1 end. u

18. Apparatus for the continuous wet ,treatment of textile materials inweb foi-m comprising a conduit possessing a small depth in relation to its width and having av first upwardly extending d end, a web removal wheel above said second open end, driving means for said removal wheel, a pivotally mounted arm, one end of said arm carrying a slidable weight, the other end of said arm carrying rotatably mounted thereon said removal wheel and means for continuously passing `a web of textile material in extended state into said first open end, through said conduit and out of said second open end'and comprising a compartment surroundingsaidrst open end and adapted to continuously feed treating liquid into said conduit through` said rst open end, means for continuously feeding treating liquid into said compartment and means for continuously discharging treating liquid from said second open end so as to create a continuous treating liquid current in saidl conduit, said conduit'being so dimensioned` in its proportions of depth to` width that said treating liquid current is suliicient to frictionally engage a ,web of textile material in extended state and continuously propel the same through said conduit.

19. Apparatus in accordance with claim 18 in conduit possessing a small depth in relation to its width and having a first upwardly extending open end and a second upwardly extending open end, guide means for guiding a web o f textile material in extended state into said first open end,

and a web removal wheel above said second open end, driving means for said removal wheel, a

lpivotally mounted arm, one end of said arm carcomprising a compartment surrounding said first open end and adapted to continuously feed treat` ing liquid into said, conduit through said first open end, means f or continuously feeding treating liquid to said compartment and means for continuously discharging treating liquid from said second open end so as to create a continuou treating liquid current in said conduit, said conduit .being so dimensionedv in its proportions. of depth to width that said treating liquid current is sufficient to frictionally engage a web of textile material in extended state and continuously propel the same through said conduit.

2l. Apparatus in accordance with claim 20 in which said second open end'is of smaller cross section than said first openlend, in which said first open end carries ontop a funnelshaped overflow rim and in which said means for con-` tinuously discharging treating liquid from said conduit are connected Vto `said means for continuously feeding treating liquid to said compartment so as to return treating liquid froml the discharge means to said compartment.

22. Apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of ,textile materials Vin web form comprising a conduit possessing a small depth in relation to its width, a first opening at one end of said conduit for continuously admitting a web of textile material in extended state, a second openingat the other .end of said conduit for continuously discharging a web of textile material in extended state and means for continuously passing a web of textile'material in extended state into, through and out of said conduit, said means comprising a first compartment surrounding said first opening and adapted to continuously feed treating liquid into said conduit through said first opening, said first opening forming a treating liquid overflow on said conduit, means for continuously feeding treating liquid into said first compartment, a

l treating liquid outlet at the other end of said conduit and comprising two opposing slots, one

on each of. the small sides of said conduit, a 1

second compartment surrounding said outlet and adapted to receive treating liquid discharged y from said conduit through said slots and means for continuously removing treating liquid from said second compartment, said treating liquid outlet being on a lower horizontal plane than said treating liquid inlet so as to create a continuous treating-liquid currentin said conduit, said conduit being so dimensionedin its proportions of depth to width that said treating liquid current is sufficient to frictionally engage a web of textile material in extended state and continuously l propel the same through said conduit,.said means for continuously removing treating liquid from said second compartment being connected to said means for continuously feeding treating liquid into said first compartment so asto return treating liquid from said second to said first compartment. l

23. Apparatus for thev continuous wettreatment of textile materials in web formV comprising a conduit possessing a small depth in relation to its width, a first opening at one end of said conduit for continuously admitting a web of textile material in extendedstate, a second opening at the other endof said conduit for continuously discharging a web of textile material in extended state and means for continuously passing a web of textile material in extended state into, through, and out of said conduit, said means comprising a first compartment surrounding said first opening, two opposing treating liquid discharge ducts'in said first compartment extending with their lower portion downwardly into said conduit through lsaid first opening and forming a slot adapted to receive and guide a web of textile material in extended state, each of said discharge ducts being adapted to continuously inject a separate stream of treating liquid downwardly into said conduit through 'said first opening, means for continuously feeding treating liquid into. said first compartment, a treating liquid outlet at the other end of said conduit and comprising two opposing slots, one on each of the small sides of said conduit, a second compartment surrounding said outlet and adapted to receive treating liquid discharged from said conduit through said outlet slots and means for continuously removing treating liquid from said second compartment, said treating liquid outlet being on a lower' horizontal plane than said treating liquid inlet so as to create a continuous treating liquid current in said conduit, saidconduit being so dimensioned in its proportions of depth to width that said treating liquid current is sufficient to frictionally engage a web of textil material in extended state and continuously propel the same through said conduit, said means for continuously removing treating liquid from said second compartment being connected to said means for continuously feeding treating liquid into said first compartment so as to return treating liquid from said' second to said first compartment.`

24. Apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of textile materials in web form comprising a conduit possessing a small depth in relation to its width, a rst opening at-one'end of'saidconduit for continuously admitting a web of textile material in extended state, a second opening at the other end of said conduit for continuously discharging a web of textile material in extended state and means for continuously passing a web of textile' material in extended state into, through and out of said conduit, said means comprising a compartment surrounding said first opening and adapted to continuously feed treating liquid into said conduit through said first opening, said first opening forming a treating liquid overfiow into said conduit, means for continuously feeding treating liquid into said compartment, a treating liquid outlet at the other end of said conduit and comprising two opposing slots, one on each of thesmall sides of said conduit, suction means `connected to said outlet slots for continuously removing treating liquid from said conduit through said slots so as to create a treating liq-v l frictionally engage a web of textile material in extended state and continuously propel the same through said conduit, said suction means being connected to said means for continuously feeding treating liquid into said compartment so as to return treating liquid `from said suction means to said compartment.

25. Apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of textile materials in web form comprising a conduit possessing a small depth in relation to its width, a rst opening at one end of said conduit for `continuously admitting a web of textile material in extended state, a second opening at the other end of said conduit for continuously discharging a web of textile material in extended state and means for continuously passing a web of textile material in extended state into, through, and out of said conduit, said means comprising a compartment surrounding said rst opening, two opposing treating liquid discharge ducts in said first compartment extending with their lower portion downwardly into said conduit through said rst opening and forming a slot adapted to receive and guide a web of textile material in extended state, each of said discharge ducts being adapted to continuously inject a separate stream of treating liquid downwardly into said conduit through said opening. means for continuously feeding treating liquid intosaid first compartment, a treating liquid outlet at the other end of said conduit and comprising two opposing slots, one on each of the small sides of said conduit, suction means connected to said outlet slots for continuously removing treating liquid from said conduit through said slots so as to create a treating liquid current in said conduit, said conduit being so dimensioned in its proportions of depth to width that said treating liquid current is suflicient to frictionally engage a web of textile material in extended state and continuously propel the same through said conduit, said suction means being connected to said means for continuously feeding treating liquid into said compartment so as to return treating liquid from said suction means to said compartment.

26. Method for the continuous wet treatment of textile materials in web form comprising continuously contacting a web of textile material in extended state in frictional engagement with treating liquid continuously owing in a narrowly confined stream in one direction, thereby continuously propelling said web of textile material in extended state in frictional engagement with and substantially immersed in said treating liquid and substantially continuously removing said web of textile material from said treating liquid.

WILH. DRSTELER. 

